Wanted: Artistic Talent

Still Life
September 2011

Let's get something straight right from the start. I have not posted this picture because I think it represents any degree of decent or even marginal art. For me, this blog is an online journal, so I like to capture things I've done, whether good, bad, wretched and everything in between.


This is the finished product from my first of two drawing classes. We started the still life last weekend. I had to complete it from memory as I hadn't taken a picture of it in class. DH found a persimmon picture on the Web so I knew what one looked like. In case you are wondering, the persimmon is the squat, nearly unidentifiable fruit on the far right, next to the gourd that DH says looks like an eggplant. He could be right! 


Today we drew sketches of landscapes and a portrait. I managed to limp through the landscape unscathed, but when it came to the portrait, the proverbial artistic wheels came off. 


The instructor had selected a lovely picture of Jackie Kennedy (a beautiful head shot) for us to sketch. After struggling for what seemed like forever, I produced what looks more like some alien creature than Jackie. OMG, the poor woman is turning over in her grave at what I drew. It was absolutely horrid, in every way. In fact, I refused to post it because anyone reading this would probably die from laughter and I don't want to be sued for "Death by hysterics." 


All right, a portrait artist I am not and I have no desire to be one. My friend, Mary, who is in the class, and I agreed that we want to get to the painting class so we can stop drawing; in fact, drawing was merely a means to an end (starting the two session oil painting class). Thank goodness for me that we'll be working on still life in the painting class! 


Onward in art land, humbled and with apologies to Jackie O, one of my idols, along with Audrey Hepburn. 

Grape Expectations

I made this quilt for our contractor and his wife, who completed the extensive outdoor project to extend our living space by some 1,000 square feet in the front of our home and making the space in our back yard much more usable.


In our development, every home has a mini-vineyard, so I wanted to make something that would reflect that element of our environment.


This beautiful grape-theme batik fabric really made this design pop. You will have to click on the photo to see the grape motif, but it is just magnificent in design and colors. Rich, lush and stunning. 


Rick and his wife, Deanne, were very grateful for the gift.It is always so much more fun making quilts for other people than for oneself.


After promising I would never make another Thimbleberries quilt, I am now tackling a Christmas quilt. After cutting out 600 pieces, I realized that was only about 30% of the total pieces required for the top! Yes, there are hundreds of very small pieces! I'm doubtful that it will be completed this Christmas, but there is always next year. 


Onward in quilt land! 

The "Perspiring" Artist

Pitcher sketch
September 2011

This picture is the first thing I've drawn in a class since I was in summer school, between my freshman and sophomore years in high school. I was too math-phobic to take a required math class, so I opted for an art class. I can't even remember what we drew, but I do recall it was some sort of still life.


Imagine me breaking out in a cold sweat when my friend Mary and I attended the first of two beginner art classes, in anticipation of taking an oil painting class. Mary figured we'd likely need to draw something to paint. Isn't that just like a lawyer (which she is) to think so analytically? 


While my sketch resembles a pitcher of some shape, it hardly reflects the object we were supposed to draw. Fortunately, there are other students in the class with the same general lack of innate artistic talent as I possess. On the other hand, there are others who can genuinely call themselves "artists." 


The class was fun and the instructor is excellent. I enjoyed the relaxation factor of the class; seems like no one is taking themselves too seriously. Mary and I sit next to each other and giggle over our respective efforts, so that makes things quite humorous and entertaining. 


I tried finishing up our other drawing (a still life with three elements) and ended up with a dismay outcome. My persimmon looks like a cow patty and the gourd, as DH pointed out, looks like an eggplant. Now I know where the expression, "Back to the drawing board!" originates.


Onward with pencil and sketch pad in hand. 

Of Halloween, Horse Shows and Half-Chaps

Halloween Quilt
Completed September 2011

Close Up of One of the Blocks

I had never made a quilt from charm squares (5" pre-cut squares) so I went searching for some to make our Halloween quilt. I was glad to find a Halloween theme Moda Charm Pack on e-Bay, at a pretty good price. Then, of course, I had to find a pattern which wasn't too difficult. 


When I received the fabric, I wasn't sure I liked the squares. I did alter the pattern to accommodate the directional squares and didn't rotate some of the squares as the original pattern suggested. But I now love the high contrast and entire look of the top. 


I hadn't made a pieced border before, so it was fun to make one. It took some real planning to make sure I had enough variety in the rectangles. I'm pleased with the way the border turned out. Off to the long arm quilter tomorrow. 


Now for things horse-related. I didn't think at the advanced age of - er, well let's just leave it at "over 60" - that I would be in a horse show. In fact, if you asked me two months ago, I would have said "Never!" But leave it to our instructor, Kelly, to ask Mary (my riding buddy) and me to participate in the schooling show at the Knicker Knob Stable in October. I have no idea what one does in a horse show like this, never having been in one. I do know that it involves judges watching you and providing feedback. "Oh, great!" My very favorite thing. I'm sure I will like receiving judges' comments as much as I do in ice skating. But, Mary and I are committed to supporting "The Knob" (as we call the stable) and so we agreed to just "man up" and do it. 


Being in a horse show means you've got to look good, right? So, I went online and found some half-chaps that, of course, I absolutely must have. They were only $29.00, so I'm sure they are not going to be great, but I am hoping they will help with the raw spot that I have on the inside of my right knee from riding. Kelly suggested I get these as "That's what English riders wear" so I took her advice, always wanting to look appropriate while riding. Between my outfit and the horse, maybe the judges won't look at my riding acumen! 


Life has been up-and-down for us the last month and we are now adjusting to a "new normal" as the result of a very unexpected health condition that DH was just diagnosed with. But, we are trying to get back to some degree of normalcy and predictability, as much as possible, that is. We had a great appointment with an expert at Stanford Medical Center and came home feeling more optimist and positive than we did before going there.


Onward through life we go. 

Gratitude at Its Purest, Most Simple Form

As some of you know, our next door neighbor's youngest son, Michael, died in a terrible drowning accident about three months ago. This was a tragedy of such magnitude that it was hard to even comprehend that such a thing could happen. Two months after Michael's death, the family - including their remaining son, Gregory - went to Greece to visit their family.  


During that time, I made a Spiderman quilt for Gregory. I really wanted to make something that would be just for him and might bring him a little joy. 


The family recently returned home, so I had the opportunity to give the quilt to Gregory. As I was in bed with a wretched migraine, he brought this thank you note (see picture) over and asked DH to give it to me. 


I cried when I read it. What an example of sweet gratitude expressed in a simple, touching way. I particularly love the "Have no fear!!! Spiderman is here!!!" part. 


Sometimes when you make a quilt, something remarkable comes back to you. For me, this is what occurred with the Spiderman quilt. The design wasn't anything complicated, but it was fun and apparently perfect for a Spiderman-loving 6-year old. I hope this quilt brings Gregory and his family some comfort and peace.


Onward in life, as difficult and tragic as it can be at times.